What is Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre's Ofsted rating?

Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre received a Good rating from Ofsted following its 2015 inspection.

What are Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre's latest exam results?

Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre: GCSE 2024/25: Attainment 8 50.4. Check the source and academic year shown with each result.

Where is Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre located?

Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre is a secondary school in Reading, Reading (RG4 8LR).

How many pupils attend Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre?

Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre has around 1,545 pupils on roll according to the latest school census data.

How can I compare Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre with other schools?

View Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre's full profile on FavSchools for available results and school details, then use the comparison tool or interactive map to explore nearby alternatives in Reading.

SecondaryData as of May 2026

Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre

Surley Row, Emmer Green, Reading, RG4 8LR

Academy converter · Ages 11–18 · Non-selective · Mixed

Ofsted

Good

Apr 2015

Historical inspection outcome; read the latest report for the full findings.

Academic picture

50.4school · 46.0 national reference

Attainment 8 · 2024/25. Average GCSE points across eight subjects, not a percentage.

Why is Progress 8 unavailable?

Progress 8 is unavailable nationally for this year because the cohort's KS2 baseline tests were cancelled. This is not a negative judgement on the school.

Explore results and trends

Before you apply

Confirm entry-year admission rules, places and selection requirements with the school or local authority.

Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre, Reading — JangoTheCat / Wikimedia Commons (via Wikidata)

Exam Results

Official performance data from the Department for Education

GCSE Results (Secondary)

Key performance measures— 2024/25

Attainment 8

50.4

Progress 8?

N/A

9-7 Grades

28.8%

Basics 9-5

57.3%

Exam attainment

Attainment 8 · GCSE points across eight subjects, not a percentage or a measure of progress.

School · 2024/25

50.4

National · same year

46.0

SchoolNational reference

View data by year

Attainment 8 values by academic year
Year	School	National
2022/23	53.4	46.4
2023/24	53.5	46.4
2024/25	50.4	46.0

Learning progress

Progress 8 · Progress compared with pupils who had similar prior attainment. Zero is the national progress baseline.

School · 2024/25

Not available

National · same year

Not available

SchoolNational reference

View data by year

Progress 8 values by academic year
Year	School	National
2022/23	+0.07	0.00
2023/24	+0.25	0.00
2024/25	Not available	Not available

Progress 8 is unavailable for 2024/25 because the cohort's KS2 baseline tests were cancelled nationally. Missing values are not zero.

Grades at or above each threshold

These percentages overlap: grades 9–7 are also included in 9–5 and 9–4. Do not add the lines together.

9–7% / 9–5% / 9–4% available from 2023/24; no grade breakdown for 2022/23

EBacc Measures

EBacc Entry

39.1%

EBacc APS

4.61

EBacc 9-5

23.4%

EBacc 9-4

30.6%

How to read Progress 8 vs Attainment 8Two numbers, two different stories. The 6-min explainer for parents.

A-Level Results (Post-16)

Key A-Level performance measures— 2024/25

APS per Entry

34.39

A*-A Grades

22.2%

A*-B Grades

50.9%

AAB+ %

16.8%

APS per Entry

National avgSelective avg

Grade Distribution (%)

A*-A% / A*-B% available from 2023/24; no grade breakdown for 2022/23

Based on 161 students entered

Community & Reviews

What parents say and who teaches here

Location & Area

Explore the neighbourhood around the school

Data shown for guidance only · confirm details with the school before applying

Nearby secondary schools

Closest alternatives within 15 km.

Queen Anne's School

1.33 km away · Other independent school

Aurora Rowan School

1.67 km away · Other independent special school

River Academy

2.05 km away · Free schools

The Deenway Montessori School

3.35 km away · Other independent school

Red Balloon Learner Centre Reading

3.37 km away · Other independent school

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